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\ \) D R E 



[RISH UNITARIAN CHRISTIAN 
SOCIET1 



i ■ . r ii e i k 



i;i; I : ' I II R BN IN AM ERIC \ 



BOSTON : 

ui i ii l. 07 I ii » CHBIiTIA* W 

i-i.;. 



A D D r : 



OFTHE IRISH UNITARIAN CHRISTIAN SOCI- 
ETY TO THEIR BRETHREN IN AMERIC \. 



Christian Friends: — In forwarding t<> you 
the accompanying Resolution, which was unan- 
imously adopted l>\ our Societj on the tOtli <>i 
M ,\ last, we desire again to address you in 
iii.it spirit of In oilifi l\ kindness, which Bhould 
attract all the members of the human family, 
more particularly such portions "i" it as ;m- 
united together in the same bonds of Christian 
fellow phip. 

Upwards of tw<i years have now elapsed 
since we seni \<>n our greetings through tin* 
Rev. Dr. Gannett, of Boston. These greet- 
ings we regret i" say, -nil remain unacknow- 
ledged, and un responded to, for n< > other 1 1 
thai we can assign, l»iit because we made ;» 1 1 1 1 - 
sion in them to the painful Bubject of Slav] ri 
in your Stat< 

Surely, brethren, this is nol as it ought t«> !»•■ ! 
Surelj your action, as ;i !">'!>. on this moment- 



ous subject, is far from consistent with the high 

and holy vocation of Unitarian Christianity! 
It is indeed, we believe true, (and we delight 
in so believing,) that in the Free (or so-called 
Free) States of your Union, none are more ac- 
tive than some Unitarians in zeal for the aboli- 
tion of Slavery ; luit we cannot at the same 
lime close our eyes upon a fact, that is to us 
ver\ distressing, that this holy feeling is by no 
means universal among you; that great cold- 
ness still prevails on this question in your 
churches; and that, if there he not a positive 
pro-slavery sentiment prevalent amongst, you, 
there is at least an unmanly, and, as appears to 
us, an unchristian inclination, to discourage 
the labors of those who demand, and are striv- 
ing to obtain equal civil lights for all alike, be 
their color or complexion what it may. 

Brethren, it is vain to imagine that this ques- 
tion of Slavery is one on which it is guiltless 
to stand neutral and inactive. It is a question, 
of which yon can by no possibility get rid, or 
so much as cast into the shade. Your country 
■can never assume her true place among the na- 
tions of the earth, while this stigma rests on 
her escutcheon : she will be but a drag-chain 
on our common Christianity, till this foul blot 



5 



II be erased from her otherwise free institu- 
tions. 

But, brethren, a recent event which has 
taken place araongsl you, leads us with joy to 
exchange our language of remonstrance for the 
voice of beart-felt gratulation. We rejoice, 
we rejoice with our whole hearts, because of 
the noble M Protest against Slavery," lately is- 
sued by on'- hundred and seventy-three minis- 
ters of our denomination in your land. \\ e 
congratulate you upon the occurrence, as af- 
fording a convincing proof that Unitarians in 
Vmerica arc at length becoming sensitively 
olive i«» the great sinfulness of holding human 
beings in slavery. We deeply sympathise with 
all our brethren who arc thus i - in 

( Christian labors, i«» " Wreak every chain i ml let 
the oppr - I go free." We thank them for 
coming forward <>n behalf of their outraged 
fellovi men. We know not how this great 
question of emancipation for all who arc in 
boi ,i j, is to be brought about in your country : 
but that it will be accomplished and at no dis- 
tant day, we cannot allow ourselves to doubt. 
And we arc anxious that Unitarians, every 
where, should be foremost in the ranks of 
those ^ ho arc working tor its overthrow. I iv- 



6 



cry Unitarian should be knowuaa an abolition- 
ist. May those of you who are lukewarm on 
this question so vital to Christianity, soon shake 
off your apathy, and may all who feel a deep 
interest in it, renew their zeal on the altar of 
Freedom, and press forward with increased 
enthusiasm in her holy cause. 

We entreal you. Friends and Brethren, to go 
on undauntedly in your glorious cause. Never 
cease from your labors, until every Unitarian, 
the world over, shall boldly and honestly pro- 
claim, that Christianity holds mi fellow- 
ship with Si.w e holding. Be noi satisfied with 
a declaration of sentiments on this matter, but 
let every man, — who by holding and buying 
and Belling human beings, acts in violation of 
his own nature, and of course in opposition 
to the innate convictions of his soul, — feel 
that he is looked upon as a man, who, ill the 
language of the noble Protest alluded to, "com- 
mits the greatest possible robbery, and the 
greatest possible wrong." 

With sincere desires for the spread of Unita- 
rian Christian opinions, which we believe to be 
in accordance with the letter and the spirit of 
our Saviour's Gospel, 

We remain, brethren, 

Your affectionate friends, 



- _mc.| by order ami ou behalf of the Irish 

Unitarian Christian Society,] 

DAS [TON, President. 

VV. H. DRUMMOND, D. D. ) .Members 

>. \. \i; - '.. v.b.S. of 

J VMES HAI GHTON, ) Committee. 

'..•[. i i; i Uuri - etary. 



The following ia the Resolution referred to 
mi the above Address,— moved by James 
I Ian- iii< mi. seconded by John Falconer : 

.';•',/, That whilst we have perused with 
ho|>e fulness and gratification, the answer re- 
turned by our I nitarian brethren in America, 
in the address to them from the Unitarian 
Clergy of Great Britain ond Ireland, on the 
subject of Negro Slavery, we cannot refrain 
from expressing our regret, that our brethren 
there have not hitherto answered the address 
of i etj on the same subject, l<>nL r pre- 

\ -lv forwarded to them ; and as our deep 

convictions <>n this momentous question i< 
iiiain unaltered, we consider it to be our »lmy 
in ivih'w our appeal i<» our American brethren, 
to l»<- unceasing in 1 1 1 * • i i- ex< rtions to wash <>nt 
the foul >iain which Negro Slavery has inflict- 
ed, and which, so long as it is tolerated, will 
continue to inflict on their country, and upon 
themselves,— and that the Committee of this 
•iii\ for the ensuing year, shall be entrusted 
with the preparation and forwarding of a re- 
newed Address in confbrmitj with this resolu- 
tion. 



54 W ^ 



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